Enhanced Support Worker

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Enhanced Support Worker to join our Young People service in Hounslow.

£22,120 per annum, working 32 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.

Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.

We are recruiting for Enhanced Support Workers to join our dynamic service and team. You will be able to be creatively engage young people in order to minimise risks and increase their independence. Partnership working is the heart of supporting our young people and Enhanced Support Workers are required to build and maintain those relationships to coordinator the young person's support.

This role requires working on a rota pattern encompassing mix of shifts between 7:15am and 21:45pm including weekends. The service is open 365 days a year.

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

What you'll do:

Responsible for key-working a caseload assigned by the Management
Undertake initial and continuous assessment of needs and potential risks and agree levels of support and actions to professional standards
Co-develop a positive behaviour support plan with the individual that identifies triggers and actions required to enable positive risk taking through reduced risks
Support customers to engage with agreed support programme
Support customers to claim and receive eligible benefits, deal with relevant agencies to develop life skills, budgeting, financial literacy, and managing finances effectively
Encourage tenants to pay their rent and to ensure that rent accounts are managed effectively
Motivate individuals to prepare and cook healthy meals safely, going shopping and offering guidance on buying balanced nutritious food

For the full list please see our website.

Successful candidates will have:

An understanding of the issues facing young people
An awareness and understanding of the social, emotional and wellbeing needs and mental health in relation to young people
An awareness of adolescent development and relevant theories, such as attachment theory
An awareness and understanding of child development and best practice in promoting healthy living and positive parenting skills
An understanding of the challenges young parents face and the skills to enable them to pursue their aspirations while parenting effectively
An understanding of the difficulties care leavers face and the skills to empower them to achieve their ambitions

For the full list please see our website.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:

A passion to support young people to reach their potential, succeed and thrive independently given the right support with a 'can do' attitude
A strong customer focus and commitment to putting customers' interests and voices at the heart of all aspects of provision
A commitment to asset based approaches - considering what matters to individuals, not just what is the matter with customers
An outcomes focus and approach to working
Strong self-awareness and commitment to acting as a positive role model
A commitment to non-discriminatory practice and to promoting equality and diversity

For the full list please see our website.

What you'll bring:

Essential:

Up to NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent or experience in the social care/charity sector
Ability to adapt to challenging environments
Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
Ability to plan, manage and evaluate outcome focused activities and support programmes
Interpersonal skills to build relationships with young people in 1:1 and group settings
Strong personal resilience and excellent teamwork skills

Desirable:

Understanding of the Service legal framework including the Children Act and Homelessness legislation and how to use it effectively

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 120 services, providing support to around 6000 customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.